Flexible Arch Mast and Sail

ABSTRACT

A mast system for use with a sailing vessel including a flexible mast connected to a first point of the sailing vessel; a tether connected to a second point of the sailing vessel, the tether being further connected to the flexible mast, wherein the lengths of the tether and the flexible mast are sized to pull the flexible mast into an arch.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/309,176, filed on Mar. 16, 2016 and entitled “Flexible Arch Mast and Sail,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to sailing vessels, and, more particularly, to sailing vessels having flexible masts.

BACKGROUND

Traditional sail boats require a rigid mast to withstand the pressure applied by a strong wind. But rigid masts are vulnerable to strong gusts of winds which can break the mast or topple the sail boat, injuring a user or requiring an expensive repair. Rigid masts also do not adjust to varying wind conditions, requiring a user to adjust the sail to the wind as it changes.

Rigid masts also are not portable, since they are long, and made heavy materials that cannot be folded or collapsed. As a result, transporting sailing vessels is difficult and costly. Additionally, collapsible ridged masts typically require complicated rigging systems and/or expert set-up, and are usually very time-consuming.

Accordingly, a need exists in the art for a mast system that adjusts to wind conditions, is portable, and cheap and easy to set up.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure generally relates to a mast system, for use with a sailing vessel, that is portable, lightweight, easy to set up, easy to control, and that withstands high winds and adjusts to wind conditions, among other benefits. The mast system also permits the use of an enlarged sail without requiring a boom.

According to an aspect, a mast system for use with a sailing vessel comprises: a flexible mast connected to a first point of the sailing vessel; a tether connected to a second point of the sailing vessel, the tether being further connected to the flexible mast, wherein the lengths of the tether and the flexible mast are sized to pull the flexible mast into an arch.

According to an embodiment, the tether is connected to an intermediate point of the flexible mast, the intermediate point of flexible mast being located between a first end of the flexible mast and a second end of the flexible mast.

According to an embodiment, the mast system further comprises a sail connected to flexible mast at a first connection point.

According to an embodiment, the sail is further connected to flexible mast at a second connection point, wherein the first connection point and second connection point are located at different points along the longitudinal axis of the sailing vessel.

According to an embodiment, the first connection point and the second connection point defines, at least in part, a head of the sail.

According to an embodiment, the mast is connected to the sailing vessel with a detachable connector.

According to an embodiment, the cross-section of flexible mast is circular, oval, or polygonal.

According to an embodiment, the flexibility of the flexible mast varies along its length.

According to an embodiment, the flexible mast is comprised of a plurality of telescoping segments.

According to an embodiment, the flexible mast is connected to the sailing vessel by a detachable base, the detachable base further comprising a rudder.

According to another aspect, a method for assembling a mast system, comprises the steps of: providing a sailing vessel and a flexible mast connected to the sailing vessel; bending the flexible mast into an arched configuration; and connecting the flexible mast to a tether to retain the flexible mast in the arched configuration.

According to an embodiment, the tether is connected to an intermediate point of the flexible mast, the intermediate point of flexible mast being located between a first end of the flexible mast and a second end of the flexible mast.

According to an embodiment, the method further comprises the steps of providing a sail connected to flexible mast at a first connection point.

According to an embodiment, the sail is further connected to flexible mast at a second connection point, wherein the first connection point and second connection point are located at different points along the longitudinal axis of the sailing vessel.

According to an embodiment, the first connection point and the second connection point defines, at least in part, a head of the sail.

According to an embodiment, the mast is connected to the sailing vessel with a detachable connector.

According to an embodiment, wherein a cross-section of flexible mast is circular, oval, or polygonal.

According to an embodiment, the flexible mast is comprised of a plurality of telescoping segments.

According to an embodiment, the flexible mast is connected to the sailing vessel by a detachable base, the detachable base further comprising a rudder.

According another aspect, a method for steering a sailing vessel comprises the steps of: providing a sailing vessel and a flexible mast fixed at a first end to the sailing vessel such that the flexible mast is held upright with respect to the sailing vessel; providing a sail connected to the flexible mast, the sail being further connected to the sailing vessel, wherein the flexible mast and sail together define a vertical plane; and tilting the sail out of the vertical plane such that the sailing vessel is steered in a desired direction.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the invention as described herein, including the detailed description which follows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are merely examples of the invention, and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the invention, and, together with the description serve to explain the principles and operation of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a mast system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 depicts a mast system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3A depicts a mast connection according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3B depicts a mast connection according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 depicts a mast system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5A depicts a mast system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5B depicts a mast system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5C depicts a mast system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 6 depicts a mast system according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown flexible mast 10, a free-standing beam structure, installed at a fixed end 16 onto sailing vessel 14. A tether 12 may be connected to the free end 18 of flexible mast 10, or otherwise to any intermediate point along the length of flexible mast 10. As shown in FIG. 2, a sail 20 may be connected to flexible mast 10 and tether 12. In an alternate embodiment, sail 20 may be connected to flexible mast 10 only without the additional connection to tether 12. Because flexible mast 10 can flex, it will bend and self-adjust to wind conditions. Furthermore, the flexible mast 10 will not break under heavy winds.

The sail wind angle and the inclination of sail 20 may be controlled by rotating mast 10 with respect to sailing vessel 14 or by tilting sail away from the vertical plane defined by sail 20 and flexible mast 10. Either method—tilting or rotating mast 10—exposes greater surface area of sail 20 to the wind, allowing a sailor to easily steer sailing vessel 14. The different positions of sail 20, as it is tilted, are shown in FIG. 2.

Flexible mast 10 may be comprised of any flexible, resilient material suitable for bending into the arch shape and capable of withstanding the forces applied to the sail under wind load. For example, flexible mast may be made of fiberglass, carbon fiber, aluminum tubing, or even specially treated wood, among many other materials. Flexible mast 10 may be an integrally formed piece or may be formed of several interconnected segments. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, flexible mast 10 may be formed of telescoping segments that can collapse to aid portability.

In general, tether 12 may be any structure suitable for tethering and pulling flexible mast 10 into an arch shape. For example, tether 12 may be a stay (e.g., a forestay) such as cable. In different embodiment, tether 12 may be a flexible beam, similar in structure to flexible mast 10. In yet another embodiment, sail 20 may serve as tether 12, and no further structure may be used—sail 20 serving to tether flexible mast 10 and pull it into the arched shape.

According to an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the tether 12 may be connected or tethered to the sailing vessel 14 by a tethering mechanism 22, which may be any device or system to connect the tether to the vessel. According to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 6, which is just an example, the tether 12 is moveably connected to the front of the vessel 14. For example, the tether may be fed through and restrained by a loop that is anchored or otherwise connected to the vessel, which serves as the tethering mechanism 22. The tether 12 may then move along its length within the tethering mechanism 22, which allows for adjustment of the tether 12 and thus the flexible mast 10. As the user pulls back on the tether 12 in the direction of the arrow, the tether moves within the loop and pulls on the flexible mast 10. The user can then reverse the process.

Sailing vessel 14 may be any sort of vessel 14 that could incorporate a sail, such as a stand-up board, surfboard, boat, canoe, kayak, catamaran, land yacht, or ice yacht.

Flexible mast 10 may be connected to sailing vessel 14 in any fashion that will retain flexible mast 10 proximate to sailing vessel 14 during use. In one embodiment, Flexible mast 10 may be integrally connected to sailing vessel 14, as shown in FIG. 3A. In an alternate embodiment, flexible mast 10 may be connected with a connector that requires a tool, such as a screwdriver, to attach or remove.

Of course, flexible mast 10 need not be directly connected to sailing vessel 14, but may connect to sailing vessel 14 via an intervening component that retains flexible mast 10 proximate to sailing vessel 14. For example, flexible mast 10 may be connected with a detachable, no-tools connector 24, such as shown in FIG. 3B. A detachable connector will allow a user to quickly and easily connect or remove flexible mast 10. As shown in FIG. 3B detachable, no-tools connector 24 may comprise a base portion 26 to which mast is connected. Flexible mast 10 may be integrally formed with base portion 26 or may be otherwise connected according to any means that would retain flexible mast 10 to base portion under wind loads. Base portion 26 may be attached to sailing vessel 14 via, for example, clamping screws 28, each having a star-shaped head—the screws engaging a threaded channel set in sailing vessel 14—allowing a user to hand tighten the base to the sailing vessel 14. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that base portion 26 may be connected to sailing vessel 14 by any other connection that would allow a user to quickly disengage the base from the sailing vessel 14 without the use of tools. Detachable, no-tools connector 24 may further include a clamping portion 30 that may grasp the end and/or underside of sailing vessel 14 to prevent detachable, no-tools connector 24 (and together with it, flexible mast 10) from lifting from sailing vessel 14 when flexible mast 10 is under wind loads.

The sailing characteristics of sailing vessel 14 will depend on variety of factors including the luff angle (i.e. the angle between the sailing vessel 14 and the leading edge of a sail) and the flexibility of the mast 10, and the shape and orientation of sail 20.

The luff angle—again, the angle between the sailing vessel 14 and the leading edge of sail 20—may be adjusted via a variety of factors such as the relative lengths of tether 12 and flexible mast 10, the distance between the points at which mast 10 and tether 12 respectively connect to sailing vessel 14, and the point at which tether 12 connects to mast 10. For example, flexible mast 10 may include connectors along its length to for attachment of tether 12 or sail 20 at different points along its length. Such connectors may include eyelets, clips, hooks, or any other structure suitable for attaching tether 12 or sail 20. Alternately, tether 12 or sail 20 may include a structure for attaching to flexible mast 10. For example, tether 12 or sail 20 may include a hook or clip which can attach to a point along the length of flexible mast 10.

Otherwise, shortening the length of tether 12 or of flexible mast 10 will result in a smaller fluff angle, and, alternately, lengthening the length of tether 12 or flexible mast 10 will result in a larger luff angle of the flexible mast 10. In the embodiment that tether 12 is a stay, such as a cable, a furler may be used to shorten or lengthen tether 12.

Alternately, the luff angle may be increased or decreased by shortening or lengthening the distance between the points at which tether 12 and flexible mast 10 connect to sailing vessel 14—these points are identified in FIG. 1 as reference numerals 22 and 32. If points 22 and 32 are brought closer together (assuming all other factors remain constant) the luff angle will increase, and if they are shifted farther apart, the luff angle will decrease.

In addition to luff angle, sailing characteristics may be varied by adjusting the rigidity and flexibility of flexible mast 10. The flexibility may be adjusted by varying factors such as its length, composition, cross-sectional shape, diameter, wall thickness, etc. For example, a short flexible mast 10 may be more rigid than a longer flexible mast 10 of the same structure.

Different cross-sectional shapes may offer different flexibilities. For example, the cross-section of flexible mast 10 may be circular, oval, or polygonal—each offering different flexibility and sailing characteristics. Two of such variants are shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. FIG. 1 depicts a telescopic, round (i.e., circular cross-section), sectional flexible mast 10, while FIG. 4 depicts a flat, thin-wall, rectangular, sectional flexible mast 10 (behaving similar to a flat spring).

Different cross-sections may also offer different rigidities across different axes. For example, a flat flexible mast 10 shown in FIG. 4 (i.e., having a rectangular cross-section) may be more rigid in the direction of thickness, while retaining flexibility elsewhere. Thus, in the orientation depicted in FIG. 4, flexible mast 10 will not flex as easily away from its vertical plane, offering greater stability under wind loads. The cross-sectional shape may also be closed or include an open section contour. Further, the flexible mast 10 may be hollow or of a solid construction. In either case, the diameter of flexible mast 10 may also be adjusted to achieve a desired flexibility. Similarly, for hollow variants, the wall thickness may be adjusted to result in a desired flexibility.

The flexibility of mast 10 may also be varied across its length. For example, flexible mast 10 may be thicker at fixed end 16 to strengthen the point at which it is fixed to sailing vessel 14 and thinner at free end 18 in order to offer greater flexibility in the area proximate to stay 12. To vary the flexibility across the length of flexible mast 10 any of the above categories (composition, cross-sectional shape, diameter, wall thickness, etc.) may be adjusted over the length of flexible mast.

Returning to FIG. 3B, a rudder 34 may also be attached to sailing vessel 14. Rudder 34 may include a shaft 36 extending through a channel defined in sailing vessel 14 or, as shown in FIG. 3B, through a connector. Shaft 36 may terminate in a tab 38 that extends at an angle from shaft 36 to allow a user to steer rudder 34. In the embodiment shown, rudder 34 may be connected to sailing vessel 14 via connector; however, rudder 34 may be attached to sailing vessel 14 according to any known method for attaching a rudder. For example, shaft 36 of rudder 34 may instead extend through a channel defined in sailing vessel 14.

Again, as shown in the figures, a sail 20 may be connected to flexible mast 10 and tether 12. In an alternate embodiment, sail 20 may be connected to flexible mast 10 only without the additional connection to tether 12.

The curvature of flexible mast 10 permits the use of different sail geometries. As a result, sail 20 may be any sort of geometry, including a triangular sail, as shown in FIG. 5A or a trapezoidal sail as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B.

Sail 20 may define a sail head 38 (i.e. the top of sail, which may include the top edge of the sail) and a sail foot 40 (i.e. the bottom or bottom edge of sail). For example, in the case of the trapezoidal sail 20, the sail head is the top edge 42 bounded by corners 44 and 46. Similarly, the sail foot is the bottom edge 48 of trapezoidal sail bounded by corners 52 and 54. By contrast, the top point 38 of triangular sail in FIG. 5A may be considered the head, while edge 40 bounded by corners 56 and 58 may be considered the foot of triangular sail.

Because flexible mast 10 is pulled into an arch shape, a length of flexible mast 10 will extend along the longitudinal axis of sail vessel 14. Sail 20 may be thus attached, at more than one point, to flexible mast 10, each attachment point being at a different point along the longitudinal axis of sailing vessel 14. For example, the head 42 of trapezoidal sail 20 may be attached at each corner 44 and 46 to flexible mast 10. Since flexible mast extends over the longitudinal axis of sailing vessel 14, the head 42 of trapezoidal sail 20 may be connected to multiple points of flexible mast 10, without folding.

Further, the curved shape of flexible mast 10 permits an enlarged sail, such as seen in FIG. 5C. The arched shape extends over a larger area, with the free end 18 held away from the fixed end. The enlarged sail 20 may therefore define a larger foot that extends in the area underneath arched sail 20. Similarly, enlarged sail 20 may have a larger head that attaches at a lower point of flexible mast, near fixed end 16, as compared to, for example, trapezoidal sail 20. This allows one sail to replace two conventional sails such as a headsail and mainsail combined, without compromising total sail area.

Of course, enlarged sail 20 need not be a trapezoid, but may be any shape having any number of sides. For example, enlarged sail may have a curved edge that follows the arc of flexible sail, connecting to at various points. In alternate embodiment, enlarged sail 20 may include a sleeve that fits over flexible mast 10, following its curve for the length of the sleeve.

All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The term “connected” is to be construed as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joined together, even if there is something intervening.

The recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein.

All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate embodiments of the invention and does not impose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed.

No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. There is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A mast system for use with a sailing vessel, comprising: a flexible mast connected to a first point of the sailing vessel; a tether connected to a second point of the sailing vessel, the tether being further connected to the flexible mast, wherein the lengths of the tether and the flexible mast are sized to pull the flexible mast into an arch.
 2. The mast system of claim 1, wherein the tether is connected to an intermediate point of the flexible mast, the intermediate point of flexible mast being located between a first end of the flexible mast and a second end of the flexible mast.
 3. The mast system of claim 1, further comprising a sail connected to flexible mast at a first connection point.
 4. The mast system of claim 3, wherein the sail is further connected to flexible mast at a second connection point, wherein the first connection point and second connection point are located at different points along the longitudinal axis of the sailing vessel.
 5. The mast system of claim 4, wherein the first connection point and the second connection point defines, at least in part, a head of the sail.
 6. The mast system of claim 1, wherein the mast is connected to the sailing vessel with a detachable connector.
 7. The mast system of claim 1, wherein the cross-section of flexible mast is circular, oval, or polygonal.
 8. The mast system of claim 1, wherein the flexibility of the flexible mast varies along its length.
 9. The mast system of claim 1, wherein the flexible mast is comprised of a plurality of telescoping segments.
 10. The mast of claim 1, wherein the flexible mast is connected to the sailing vessel by a detachable base, the detachable base further comprising a rudder.
 11. A method for assembling a mast system, comprising the steps of: providing a sailing vessel and a flexible mast connected to the sailing vessel; bending the flexible mast into an arched configuration; and connecting the flexible mast to a tether to retain the flexible mast in the arched configuration.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the tether is connected to an intermediate point of the flexible mast, the intermediate point of flexible mast being located between a first end of the flexible mast and a second end of the flexible mast.
 13. The method of claim 11, further providing a sail connected to flexible mast at a first connection point.
 14. The mast system of claim 13, wherein the sail is further connected to flexible mast at a second connection point, wherein the first connection point and second connection point are located at different points along the longitudinal axis of the sailing vessel.
 15. The mast system of claim 14, wherein the first connection point and the second connection point defines, at least in part, a head of the sail.
 16. The mast system of claim 11, wherein the mast is connected to the sailing vessel with a detachable connector.
 17. The mast system of claim 11, wherein a cross-section of flexible mast is circular, oval, or polygonal.
 18. The mast system of claim 11, wherein the flexible mast is comprised of a plurality of telescoping segments.
 19. The mast of claim 11, wherein the flexible mast is connected to the sailing vessel by a detachable base, the detachable base further comprising a rudder.
 20. A method for steering a sailing vessel, comprising the steps of: providing a sailing vessel and a flexible mast fixed at a first end to the sailing vessel such that the flexible mast is held upright with respect to the sailing vessel; providing a sail connected to the flexible mast, the sail being further connected to the sailing vessel, wherein the flexible mast and sail together define a vertical plane; and tilting the sail out of the vertical plane such that the sailing vessel is steered in a desired direction. 